Azul: Huff Out, New Menu Items In

Rumors have been swirling regarding the future of Azul at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel after it was made known that executive chef Joel Huff left, almost exactly a year after he started his duties at the posh and gorgeous restaurant.

Eater Miami reported that a source revealed a celebrity chef was checking out Azul while Huff was still in the kitchen. After witnessing the unnamed chef perusing the restaurant three times, the source mused, "I can see them closing Azul for this opportunity if they can close the deal."

Alexandra Wensley, Mandarin Oriental Miami's director of communications, told Short Order that the rumor is not true. She confirmed Huff's departure, stating that Huff "moved on to pursue other opportunities" and that the restaurant is looking for a chef -- but they are not pursuing a celebrity chef.

Wensley did not comment on whether the Azul name and concept are secure or open to change, but did confirm

that in the interim, Azul's sous chef, Jacob Anaya, will take over

the kitchen, keeping most of Azul's signature dishes and adding some of

his own inspirations. Anaya started at the restaurant a year ago, about the same time Huff arrived.

In fact, Anaya has

added four new dishes to the menu, giving diners an opportunity to try

something new and allowing the chef to shine. The dishes include smoked

Mediterranean octopus with French curry, brown-butter baba ghannouj, and

Laine Doss is the food and spirits editor for Miami New Times, has been featured on Cooking Channel's Eat Street and Food Network's Great Food Truck Race. She won an Alternative Weekly award for her feature about what it's like to wait tables.